Date of publication 05/22/2011 18:35
Acid rain is one of the terms that industrialization has brought to humanity. The irrepressible consumption of the planet's resources, the huge scale of fuel combustion, ecologically imperfect technologies are vivid signs rapid development industry, which is ultimately accompanied by chemical pollution of water, air and land. Acid rain is just one of the manifestations of such pollution.
First mentioned back in 1872, the concept became really relevant only in the second half of the 20th century... Currently, acid rain is a problem for many countries around the world, including the United States and almost all European countries. The acid rain map, developed by environmentalists around the world, clearly shows the areas with the highest risk of hazardous precipitation.
Causes of acid rain
Any acidity has a certain level rainwater ... But in the normal case, this indicator corresponds to a neutral pH level - 5.6-5.7 or slightly higher. The slight acidity is due to the content in the air carbon dioxide, but it is considered so low that it does not cause any harm to living organisms. Thus, the causes of acid rain are associated exclusively with human activities and cannot be explained by natural causes.
The prerequisites for an increase in the acidity of atmospheric water arise when industrial enterprises emit large amounts of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. The most common sources of such pollution are vehicle exhaust, metallurgy and thermal power plants (CHP). Unfortunately, modern level the development of purification technologies does not allow filtering out nitrogen and sulfur compounds, which arise as a result of the combustion of coal, peat, and other types of raw materials that are used in industry. As a result, such oxides enter the atmosphere, combine with water as a result of reactions under the action of sunlight, and falls on the ground in the form of precipitation, which is called "acid rain".
The effects of acid rain
Scientists note that the effects of acid rain are very multidimensional, and are dangerous for people, animals, and plants... Among the main experts are the following effects:
- Acid rains noticeably increase the acidity of lakes, ponds, reservoirs, as a result of which their natural flora and fauna are gradually dying out there. As a result of changes in the ecosystem of water bodies, they become waterlogged, clogged, and increased siltiness. In addition, as a result of such processes, the water becomes unusable for humans. It increases the content of salts of heavy metals and various toxic compounds, which in a normal situation are absorbed by the microflora of the reservoir.
- Acid rain leads to forest degradation, plant extinction... Especially suffer coniferous trees, since the slow renewal of foliage does not give them the opportunity to independently eliminate the effects of acid rain. Young forests are also very susceptible to such precipitation, the quality of which is rapidly declining. With constant exposure to water with high acidity, trees die.
- In the USA and Europe acid rain is one of the common causes of poor yields, the extinction of crops in huge areas. At the same time, the reason for such damage lies both in the direct impact of acid rain on plants and in disturbances in soil mineralization.
- Acid rains cause irreparable damage to architectural monuments, buildings, structures... The action of such precipitation causes accelerated corrosion of metals, failure of mechanisms.
- Given the current acidity that acid rains have, in some cases they can cause direct harm to humans and animals. First of all, people in zones increased danger suffer from diseases of the upper respiratory tract ... However, not so far is the day when the saturation harmful substances in the atmosphere will reach a level at which sulfuric and nitrate acid will fall out in the form of precipitation enough high concentration... In such a situation, the threat to human health will be much higher.
How to deal with acid rain?
It is almost impossible to deal with the precipitation itself.... Falling out over vast areas, acid rain causes significant damage, and constructive solution there is no such problem.
Acid phrases have become commonplace in modern, especially urban life. Summer residents often complain that after such unpleasant rainfall, the plants begin to wither, and a whitish or yellowish bloom appears in the puddles.
What it is
Science has a definite answer to the question of what acid rain is. These are all known whose water is below normal. The norm is considered to be pH 7. If the study shows an underestimation of this figure in precipitation, they are considered acidic. With an ever-increasing industrial boom, the acidity of rain, snow, fog and hail is hundreds of times higher than normal.
Causes
Acid rain falls over and over again. The reasons lie in toxic emissions industrial facilities, exhaust gases of cars, to a much lesser extent - in the decay of natural elements. The atmosphere is brimming with sulfur and nitric oxides, hydrogen chloride and other acid-forming compounds. The result is acid rain.
There are precipitation and alkaline content. They note the presence of calcium or ammonia ions. The concept of "acid rain" is also suitable for them. This is due to the fact that, getting into a water body or soil, such precipitation affects the change in the water-alkaline balance.
What do acidic sediments lead to?
No good oxidation the surrounding nature certainly does not. Acid rain is extremely harmful. The reasons for the death of vegetation after the fallout of such precipitation lie in the fact that many useful elements are leached from the ground with acids, in addition, pollution with hazardous metals is observed: aluminum, lead and others. Contaminated sediments cause mutations and death of fish in water bodies, improper development of vegetation in rivers and lakes. They also have a detrimental effect on the ordinary environment: they largely contribute to the destruction of natural facing materials, and cause accelerated corrosion of metal structures.
After reviewing general characteristic of this atmospheric phenomenon, we can conclude that the problem of acid rain is one of the most urgent from the point of view of ecology.
Scientific research
It is important to dwell in more detail on the scheme of chemical pollution of nature. Acid rain is the cause of many disturbances in environment... Such a characteristic of precipitation appeared in the second half of the 19th century, when a chemist from Great Britain R. Smith revealed the content of hazardous substances, which strongly change the chemical picture of precipitation. In addition, acid rain is a phenomenon that spreads over large areas, regardless of the source of pollution. The scientist also noted the destruction that the infected sediments entailed: plant diseases, loss of tissue color, accelerated spread of rust, and others.
Experts are more accurate in determining what acid rain is. Indeed, in reality it is snow, fog, clouds and hail. Dry precipitation with a lack of atmospheric moisture falls out in the form of dust and gas.
on nature
Lakes are dying, the number of fish stocks is decreasing, forests are disappearing - all these are dire consequences of the oxidation of nature. Soils in forests do not react as sharply to acidification as water bodies, but plants perceive all changes in acidity very negatively. Like an aerosol, harmful precipitation envelops foliage and needles, permeates trunks, and penetrates the soil. Vegetation receives chemical burns, gradually weakening and losing its ability to survive. Soils lose fertility and saturate growing crops with toxic compounds.
Biological resources
When a study of lakes in Germany was carried out, it was found that in reservoirs where the water indicator deviated significantly from the norm, the fish disappeared. Single specimens were caught only in some lakes.
Historical heritage
Seemingly invulnerable human creations also suffer from acid precipitation... The ancient Acropolis, located in Greece, is known throughout the world for the outlines of its mighty marble statues. For centuries, natural materials have not spared: the noble breed is destroyed by winds and rains, the formation of acid rain further intensifies this process. While restoring historical masterpieces, modern craftsmen did not take measures to protect metal compounds from rust. The result is that acid rain, oxidizing the iron, causes large cracks in the statues, marble cracks due to the pressure of rust.
Cultural monuments
United Nations Initiates Research on the Effect of Acidic Precipitation on Facilities cultural heritage... In the course of them, the negative consequences of the action of rains on the most beautiful stained-glass windows of cities were proved. Western Europe... Thousands of colored glasses are in danger of sinking into oblivion. Until the twentieth century, they delighted people with their strength and originality, but the last decades, darkened by acid rains, threaten to destroy the magnificent stained glass paintings. Dust saturated with sulfur is ruining antiques made of leather and paper. Ancient items under the influence lose their ability to resist atmospheric phenomena, become brittle and may soon crumble to dust.
Ecological catastrophy
Acid rain is serious problem for the survival of humanity. Unfortunately, the realities modern life require more and more expansion industrial production, which increases the volume of poisonous The population of the planet is increasing, the standard of living is increasing, cars are becoming more and more, energy consumption is off the charts. At the same time, only the CHP Russian Federation every year they pollute the environment with millions of tons of sulfur-containing anhydride.
Acid rain and ozone holes
Ozone holes are equally widespread and raise more serious concerns. Explaining the essence of this phenomenon, it must be said that this is not a real rupture of the atmospheric envelope, but a violation in the thickness of the ozone layer, which is located approximately 8-15 km from the Earth and extends into the stratosphere up to 50 km. The accumulation of ozone largely absorbs the harmful radiation of solar ultraviolet radiation, protecting the planet from the strongest radiation. That's why ozone holes and acid rain - threats to the normal life of the planet that require the utmost attention.
Ozone integrity
The beginning of the twentieth century added chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the list of human inventions. Their peculiarity was exceptional stability, lack of odor, incombustibility, and absence of a toxic effect. CFCs gradually began to be widely introduced into the production of various refrigeration units (from cars to medical complexes), fire extinguishers, and household aerosols.
Only by the end of the second half of the twentieth century, chemists Sherwood Roland and Mario Molina suggested that these miraculous substances, otherwise called freons, strongly affect the ozone layer. At the same time, CFCs can "float" in the air for decades. Gradually rising from the ground, they reach the stratosphere, where ultraviolet radiation destroys Freon compounds, releasing chlorine atoms. As a result of this process, ozone is converted to oxygen much faster than under normal natural conditions.
The scary thing is that only a few units of chlorine atoms are required to reshape hundreds of thousands of ozone molecules. In addition, chlorofluorocarbons are considered gases that create Greenhouse effect and participating in the process global warming... It is fair to add that nature itself contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. Thus, volcanic gases contain up to one hundred compounds, including carbons. Natural freons contribute to the active thinning of the ozone-containing layer over the poles of our planet.
What can be done?
Finding out what the danger of acid rain is is no longer relevant. Now on the agenda in every state, in every industrial enterprise first of all, there should be measures to ensure the cleanliness of the surrounding air.
In Russia, giant factories such as RUSAL last years they began to approach this issue very responsibly. They spare no expense for the installation of modern reliable filters and treatment facilities that prevent oxides and heavy metals from entering the atmosphere.
Are increasingly being used alternative ways energy production that does not entail dangerous consequences... Wind and solar energy (for example, in everyday life and for cars) is no longer a fantasy, but a successful practice that helps to reduce the amount of harmful emissions.
Expansion of forest plantations, cleaning up rivers and lakes, correct processing garbage - all this effective methods in the fight against environmental pollution.
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Their causes and consequences - actual problems ecology, causing serious concern to any sane person. Find out why they fall out, as well as what danger they pose in themselves.
What is acid rain
Considering the most pressing global environmental problems, many scientists note the formation of acid rain. And in order to assess the consequences of their impact, it is worth first understanding the essence of the phenomenon. Normally, the acidity of any precipitation should be in the range of 5.6-5.8 pH. In this case, the water is a slightly acidic solution, which does not cause any consequences and does not affect the environment.
If the acidity of precipitation for any reason increases, then they become acidic. This term was introduced into circulation by the Scottish-born chemist Robert Angus Smith in the second half of the 19th century. The problem of acid rain was identified at that distant time, but today it is the most urgent and acute.
Normally, precipitation that falls periodically should have a slightly acidic environment. This is due to the fact that the natural elements that make up the atmosphere (for example, carbon dioxide) react with water, resulting in the formation of a small amount carbonic acid... The mechanism for the formation of acid rain is associated with pollutants that penetrate into the lower atmospheric layers and are retained in them.
The main component of precipitation with high acidity, as studies have shown, is sulfur oxide. In the atmosphere, as a result of a photochemical oxidative reaction, a certain part of it is transformed into sulfuric anhydride, and it, in turn, in contact with water vapor, turns into sulfuric acid... From the rest of the sulfur oxide, sulfurous acid, which, oxidizing at high humidity, gradually becomes sulfuric.
Another common constituent is nitric oxide, which also reacts with water to form acids.
Fun fact: If you want to figure out what acid rain looks like, you probably won't be able to tell it apart from normal rain. Increased acidity does not manifest itself in any way and does not change appearance precipitation.
Why acid precipitation occurs
The causes of acid rain are numerous, and the main ones are listed below:
- The main reason is the exhaust emissions from vehicles running on gasoline. As a result of fuel combustion, vapors rush into the atmosphere and, reacting with water, significantly increase the acidity of precipitation.
- Thermal power plant activities. On combustion different types fuels used to generate heat, there are constant emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
- Acid rainfall is associated with active mining, processing and use of minerals such as coal, ore, gas and others. They have been used by mankind for a long time, and few think about the dangers of fuel combustion, due to which the release occurs a large number carbon dioxide and various pollutants.
- Among the reasons for the formation of acid rain, one can also note natural, that is, not dependent on humans, but associated with natural phenomena and processes. So, during the period of volcanic eruptions, many compounds are released and emitted into the atmosphere, for example, sulfur oxides, sulfates, hydrogen sulfide. Also, emissions are caused by lightning discharges and the activity of microorganisms living in the soil.
- Another reason for the appearance of precipitation with high acidity is rotting of the corpses of animals and plants. During these processes, nitrogen and sulfur-containing compounds arise, which, falling into the atmospheric layers and reacting with moisture, turn into acids.
- Among the causes of acid rain should be highlighted the activities of various industrial and processing enterprises engaged in the processing of metals, the production of metal parts, mechanical engineering. Many factories and plants do not use treatment and filtering facilities, therefore, harmful emissions enter the environment and greatly pollute it.
- Another reason for the formation of acid rain is the active use by people of various aerosols and sprays, which include hydrogen chloride and other no less harmful compounds.
- Also, acid rain is caused by the leakage of freon from refrigeration equipment and air conditioners.
- Acidic precipitation is caused by the production of some building materials.
- Fertilizing the soil, especially with toxic compounds, for example, nitrogen-containing ones.
Real threats
What are the negative effects of acid rainfall, what harm does it cause? This is real ecological problem which is real threat for the entire ecosystem, environment and humans.
Consider the main effects of acid rain:
- Acid rain causes great damage flora... First, such sediments damage foliage and stems. Secondly, penetrating into the soil, they change its composition, making the soil poor, infertile, or even toxic.
- The negative impact of acid rain on the environment extends to water bodies: sedimentary water enters them and accumulates, changing the natural composition. As a result, the environment changes and becomes unsuitable for the life of different aquatic life including fish.
- Another area of harm from acid rain is the destruction of buildings, monuments, and architectural structures. Acids, getting on materials, gradually destroy and literally corrode them.
- Acid rain is also very dangerous for humans. Although the concentration of acids is usually not high enough to corrode the skin, it is negative impact occurs. Thus, such precipitation can cause severe allergic reactions caused by the ingestion of harmful compounds. And some scientists believe that with prolonged exposure to precipitation with high acidity, oncological diseases can occur.
- The negative effects of acid rain affect animal world... Acids in the composition can affect the coat, as well as penetrate into plants used by some animals. Often, such an impact leads to death, but mutations are possible.
How to solve the problem
Rain with a high acid content that occurs from time to time is primarily the result of human activities. Therefore, humanity must solve the problem. To reduce the amount of precipitation with high acidity, you should reconsider your attitude to the environment and life on the planet.
Measures such as the introduction of purification systems and the installation of filtering equipment at factories and plants, the reduction of the volume of fuel used and the development of alternative energy sources, and the abandonment of toxic fertilizers will make it possible to change the situation for the better.
Helpful Hint: To protect yourself from negative consequences precipitation follows in rainy weather use an umbrella or raincoat and avoid dripping on the open areas skin. In this case, the rain will not harm you.
The problem of precipitation with high acidity is very urgent and requires complex solution... We need to act together and in several directions.
Acid rain is one of the main threats of our time, resulting from economic activity person.
We have already touched on this topic in our material - ACID RAIN IS AN ENEMY OF EVERYTHING ALIVE. In this material, we will give several precise definitions given to this phenomenon in respected dictionaries and encyclopedias.
Acid rain is ...
WORLD COUNTRY Vocabulary
Acid rain, a term used to describe the deposition of chemical pollutants in the form of both particulate matter and acid rain, hail, snow or fog. Automobiles, industrial processes, combustion of fossil fuels in power plants create pollution mainly in the form of emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons, which react with water and sunlight, while forming weak sulfuric or nitric acid, ammonium salts, as well as other mineral acids. All this is deposited on the ground, often at a great distance from the source of emission, causing corrosion, death of trees, unwanted acidification of water and soil, and therefore a threat to human health. The degree of acidity is usually measured on the pH scale, logarithmic system measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions. The range of values is from 0 (maximum acidity) to 14 (maximum alkalinity). PH value = 5, 6 corresponds to pure water.
Countries of the world. Dictionary. 1998
Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia
Acid rain, chemical pollution water resources, flora and fauna caused by emissions of waste gases from the combustion of fossil fuels. The acidity of rain, snow and fog increases due to the absorption of exhaust gases, predominantly. sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted by power plants, factories and by car... K. d. Damage human health, causing bronchial diseases, destroy limestone buildings, increase the acidity of lakes and rivers, which is fatal for fish and animals, vegetation and forests. Acidic waters are also dangerous because they contain harmful metals, such as cadmium and mercury, which are usually retained in the soil. For the first time, the alarm regarding the impact of K. d. Was sounded in Sweden in the 1960s; from them, of course, has suffered means part woodlands Europe, chap. Center., As well as S., V. and S.-V. USA and Japan. In 1984, pl. countries signed the protocol to the Geneva Convention on the Control of Air Pollution (1979), agreeing to reduce sulfur emissions, although the worst air pollutants - the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland and Spain - did not put their signatures on this document. Reconstruction or closure of coal-fired power plants is required to significantly reduce sulfur emissions. Reducing nitric oxide levels can be achieved by reducing the lifespan and speed of passenger car and truck engines, and by equipping them with catalytic converters that remove most this gas (and a hydrocarbon that promotes education to) from automobile exhaust; since 1992, the installation of catalytic converters is mandatory in European countries; in the United States, they have been widely used for air pollution control since the 1970s.
Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia. - M .: Infra-M. Edited by R. Hoggart. 2002
ACID RAIN (sour rain), characterized by increased content acids (mainly sulfuric); pH value pH<4,5. Образуются при взаимодействии атмосферной влаги с транспортно-промышленными выбросами (главным образом серы диоксид, а также азота оксиды и др.). Вредно действуют на здоровье людей, растительный и животный мир, сооружения и конструкции; закисляют почвы и водоемы. Распространены в промышленных районах США, стран Западной Европы, России и др. Кислотные загрязнения могут содержаться в других атмосферных осадках (снег, град и т.п.).
Modern encyclopedia. 2000
Ecological Dictionary
Acid rain is rain caused by sulfur dioxide (SO 2) pollution of the atmosphere. They have a biocidal effect, in particular, the death of fish (for example, in the waters of Scandinavia due to the transfer of gas emissions in the industrial cities of England).
Ecological Dictionary. - Alma-Ata: "Science". B.A. Bykov. 1983
Geography. A modern illustrated encyclopedia
Acid rain is one of the types of intense environmental pollution, which is the fallout of droplets of sulfuric and nitric acids with rain, arising from the reaction of sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted into the air by industrial enterprises and transport, with water droplets in the atmosphere. Acid droplets can be carried long distances by air currents before falling with acid rain. Acid rain causes great damage to forests, water bodies, crops, buildings, etc., and also adversely affects human health. The heaviest acid rain falls in and around the world's most industrialized regions. In 1984, in the Black Forest (Germany), about half of the trees in the forests were damaged by acid rain. Also, significant damage to woodlands is noted in the northeastern states of the United States and in the east of Canada. To overcome the adverse effects of acid rain, national and international standards are being established to reduce nitrogen and sulfur emissions into the atmosphere.
Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M .: Rosman. Edited by Professor A.P. Gorkin. 2006
As we can see from the above definitions, acid rain is not a local problem in individual industrial regions of our planet. The damage caused by such rains is global in nature and requires appropriate global solutions. To be more precise - active global decisions, since such damage is often irreparable / irreparable.
Acid rain is a serious environmental problem and can be attributed to global environmental pollution. Frequent acid rainfalls cause concern not only among scientists, but also among ordinary people, as such types of precipitation have a negative impact on health.
Acid rain is characterized by low pH levels. Ordinary precipitation has a level of this indicator of 5.6. It should be noted that even with small deviations from the norm, the consequences for living organisms can be serious.
With significant shifts, a low acidity level can lead to the death of fish, as well as many insects and even amphibians. In addition, in areas where acid precipitation is noted, acid burns are sometimes noticed on the foliage of trees, and some plants even die off. Many people can feel the negative impact of acid rain. Following such a shower, an accumulation of toxic gases can occur in the atmosphere, and it is extremely undesirable to breathe such a gas-air mass. The consequences will not be long in coming, even with a short walk during such precipitation, the appearance of cardiovascular, bronchopulmonary diseases, and asthma is possible.
Can acid rain alone pose a threat?
The problem of acid rain in recent decades has become more global, so all the inhabitants of the Earth would not hurt to think about their role - positive or negative - in this natural phenomenon. You should be aware that most of the harmful substances that enter the air are a product of human activity and practically do not disappear anywhere. Most of them remain in the atmosphere and will one day return to earth along with precipitation. And the very influence of acid rain is so serious that in some cases it may take more than one hundred years to eliminate the consequences.
In order to get acquainted in more detail with the possible consequences of acid rain, it is advisable to understand what the concept itself carries. Most scientists unanimously believe that such a formulation can be considered too narrow in order to capture the full potential of a global problem. You should not study only one rains, you need to pay attention to acid hail, fog and snowfall, which also refer to carriers of harmful substances and compounds, because the process of their formation is mostly identical. It should not be forgotten that in stable dry weather, toxic gases or dust clouds, or both, may appear. But these formations are also related to acidic precipitation.
Causes of acid rain
The causes of acid rain, by and large, are directly dependent on the human factor. Continuous pollution of the atmosphere with the use of acid-forming compounds (such as sulfur oxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen, etc.) leads to an imbalance. The most important producers of such substances are, of course, large industrial enterprises, for example, metallurgical, oil refining, thermal power plants that burn coal or fuel oil. Despite the filters and purification systems, modern technology has not yet reached the level that would completely eliminate not only the negative impacts, but also the industrial waste itself.
In addition, there has been an increase in acid rainfall associated with the growth of vehicles on the planet. Large amounts of exhaust gases, albeit in small quantities, still contribute to the production of harmful acidic compounds. And if we recalculate the total number of vehicles, then the degree of pollution, one might say, has reached a critical level. In addition to all of the above, many household items also contribute, for example, aerosols, cleaning / detergents, etc.
Another reason for the occurrence of acid rain, apart from the human factor, may be some natural processes. In particular, volcanic activity, during which a large amount of sulfur is emitted, can lead to their occurrence. Moreover, it participates in the formation of gaseous compounds during the decay of individual organic substances, which in turn also leads to air pollution.
Acid rain formation mechanism
All harmful substances that have been released into the atmosphere begin to react with elements of solar energy, carbon dioxide or water, resulting in the formation of acidic compounds. Together with moisture vapor, they rise into the atmosphere, after which clouds form. Thus, the formation of acid rain, the formation of snowflakes or hailstones, which will return to the ground everything that has been absorbed, along with other chemicals.
In some areas of the Earth, some deviations from the norm were noted within 2-3 units. So, at an acceptable acidity level of pH 5.6, in the Moscow region and China there were cases of precipitation with a pH level of 2.15. It is not possible to predict the exact location of acid rain, as it is possible that formed clouds could be blown away by the wind long distances from where the pollution occurred.
Composition of acid rain
The main components of acid rain are sulfuric and sulfurous acids, as well as the presence of ozone generated during thunderstorms. There are also nitrogen types of precipitation, in which nitric and nitrous acids are present as the main ones. Chlorine and methane rarely cause acid rain. And, of course, other harmful substances may fall out with precipitation, based on what was in the composition of household and industrial waste emitted into the atmosphere in specific regions.
Why acid rain is dangerous?
Acid rains, together with their consequences, are the subject of constant observations by scientists from all countries. However, their predictions are extremely disappointing. Precipitation in which the pH level is low is dangerous not only for humans, but also for flora and fauna.
When it gets into the ground, acid rain damages plants by depriving them of the nutrients they need for growth and development. Among other things, toxic metals are drawn onto the surface. With a high concentration of acids, due to precipitation, trees can die off, the soil becomes unusable for further growing crops, and it will take decades to restore it.
The same situation is with water bodies. The composition of acid rain leads to a disturbance in the balance of the natural environment, after which the problem of river pollution arises. This, in turn, leads to the death of fish, and also slows down the growth of algae. Consequently, entire bodies of water, lakes and rivers may cease to exist for a long time.
Before hitting the ground, acid rain, passing through air masses, leaves particles of toxic substances in the atmosphere. This is considered extremely unfavorable, because it negatively affects the health of people and animals, and also significantly harms buildings. So the majority of paints and varnishes and facing materials, metal structures begins to dissolve as soon as drops of ill-fated rain fall on them.
Global environmental problems of acid precipitation
Among the global environmental problems caused by acid precipitation may include:
- Changes in the ecosystem of water bodies, leading to the death of flora and fauna. It will be impossible to use such sources for drinking, because heavy metals will exceed the norms many times over;
- Damage to roots and leaves will lead to the destruction of protection from cold weather and disease. This is especially true for conifers in severe frosts;
- Soil contamination with toxins. The flora located in the contaminated areas of the soil will certainly weaken or die. Harmful elements will come along with useful substances, which will remain less and less.
The harm of acid rain to humans
The death of domestic animals, commercial fish species, crops - all this, to one degree or another, will affect the quality of life and economy of any state.
Fish or animal meat can be hazardous to health if it is eaten in places where acid poisoning has occurred. Such meat may contain a critical content of toxic compounds or heavy metal ions. If it gets into human organisms, it can lead to severe intoxication, serious liver or kidney disease, clogging of nerve channels, and the formation of blood clots. Some of the effects of acid poisoning can only appear after generations.
Methods for dealing with acid precipitation
Today, the United States, China, and, of course, Russia are leading the main risk group for acid precipitation. Actually, in these states, the coal-processing and metallurgical industries are highly developed and, accordingly, there are a large number of such enterprises. However, both Canada and Japan are considered dangerous, in the direction of which acid precipitation can be driven by the wind. According to some studies, if preventive measures are not taken, the list of such states can be replenished with many more candidates, and this will not have to wait long.
Fighting acid rain at the local level is almost useless. For the situation to change for the better, it is necessary to take comprehensive measures. And they are possible only with the simultaneous and coordinated actions of many countries. Academic science is trying to find new purification systems to minimize emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, however, the percentage of acid precipitation is only growing so far.
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